Iran Rejects U.S. Ceasefire Proposal, Reports The New York Times

Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire that was conveyed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidan to Tehran, according to The New York Times, citing unnamed Iranian and Iraqi officials. This marks a further setback in attempts to de-escalate military tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The American newspaper reported that Tehran shows no interest in a temporary agreement that does not address control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key point of tension between the two nations. The White House has not commented on the newspaper's report.

This development follows nearly two weeks of escalating military confrontations between the United States and Iran. Tehran has continued targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz despite Washington reinstating a naval blockade. Iran has also launched attacks on American sites and bases in the Middle East, while the U.S. has responded with airstrikes targeting military bases and facilities within Iran.

According to The New York Times, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidan visited Tehran on Thursday following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House the previous week, as part of diplomatic efforts to lower tensions between the two sides.

Ahead of the visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Zaidan carried messages and ideas from President Trump. However, he emphasized that Iran sees no benefit in continuing mediations with Washington, attributing the crisis to what he described as the "irrational American approach."

In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric against Iran, asserting that Tehran is "not ready" to reach an agreement and accusing its leaders of harboring "evil intentions," according to the newspaper.

The New York Times considers Iran's insistence on rejecting any truce that does not address the Strait of Hormuz issue as a reflection of ongoing fundamental disagreements between the two parties, thus reducing the chances of reaching an agreement to halt the military confrontation in the near term.